POLOKWANE – Vaccines save millions of lives each year and work by training and preparing the body’s natural defense, the immune system, to recognise and fight off viruses.
If the body is exposed to those disease-causing germs at a later stage, the body is immediately ready to destroy them, preventing illness.
This is what the newly discovered Covid-19 vaccine aims to do in order to help fight possible infections.
On Monday, 25 January, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the country would soon receive its first consignment of Covid-19 vaccines from the Serum Institute in India, the world’s largest vaccine producer.
Bonus asked residents about their thoughts on the vaccine and whether or not they would be vaccinated:
Tokologo Mashabela: I do not think I will be vaccinated because judging from social media content and controversy, I feel scared and very skeptical. I have seen videos doing the rounds on Facebook and Twitter and I do not want to become just a number who died from an unknown cause.Kwena Moloto: Yes, I am ready and confident that the vaccine will help to reduce the alarming number of infections of Covid-19. We are facing a very difficult time and we need to trust and believe in our medical practioners because they know, and are experts in their fields. Besides, this is not the first time we have a vaccine to help fight deadly viruses and diseases.Sharon Ledwaba: I am not comfortable with the vaccine because I have not seen proof that it actually works and is effective. I read rumors that having the vaccine brought to South Africa will mean the economy is going to suffer and we will paying more tax, we are gong to suffer financially as a result. I do not support the idea of the vaccine.Pheladi Moloto: I am sceptical about the vaccine as I’m not sure what the side effects are. I believe that only those who are highly exposed to the virus must be vaccinated and those who can keep indoors should opt to do so.Selaelo Mothabelo: Yes! I will take the vaccine because I need to protect myself from this deadly and highly infectious virus. Life still has to go on and if doctors and pharmaceutical scientists can come up with a vaccine to help stop the spread then we need to trust them.For more breaking news follow us on FacebookTwitter Instagram or join our WhatsApp group.